First Gay Justice Appointed to Wash. State Supreme Court

King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu has been appointed to the Washington state Supreme Court, becoming the first gay justice, as well as the first Asian-American, to serve on the state's high court.

Yu was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday. She replaces Justice James Johnson, who announced his retirement last month due to health issues. Johnson's last day on the bench was Wednesday.

Yu was appointed to the King County Superior Court by former Gov. Gary Locke and she's the first Supreme Court justice appointed by Inslee, who took office in January of 2013. To keep the seat, she will have to run for election in November.

When the state's first gay marriages started taking place around the state on December 9, 2012, she officiated the first King C

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